Game apparatus



D. C. ROCKOL GAME APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1955 INVENTOR. avd Cf Rockola BY Mcaa n.;

/l/5 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 17, 1.935

UNITED STATES rase ATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a game apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved game apparatus which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efcient in use. l

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel latching device for the ball elevating mechanism of a so-called pin and marble game.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel combination ball elevating device and latching mechanism therefor.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide, in an amusement apparatus of the so-called pin and marble type, wherein there is embodied an energy storing spring or other device operated by movement of the ball elevator, means for latching the ball elevator and the said spring or other device of the operating mechanism against operation when there is no ball arranged upon the ball elevator.

A game of the character referred to in the last` preceding object is the game known as Wings. In this game there is arranged upon the playing surface a rotatable disc which is revolved by means of an energy storing spring which is arranged below the playing surface, the said energy storing spring being energized every time theball elevating device is operated to elevate a ball from a point below the playing surface up to the level of the same.

The present invention has, as another object, to construct the ball elevating device in such a manner that the same is latched against operation when there is no ball in the ball elevating device so that the player can not continuously operate the ball elevator and energize the said spring and thereby continue to operate the rotatable disc unless there is a ball in the elevating device and the game apparatus is in condition for play.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a game apparatus with part of the top of the cabinet broken away to reveal the ball elevator and the latching device therefor arranged beneath the playing surface;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 in Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in a different position from that in which they are shown in Fig. 3.

A preferred form of the present invention is shown in the drawing, is therein generally indicated at IG, and is shown in conjunction with a game apparatus II of the so-called pin and marble game type; the said apparatus II including a cabinet I2.

The new game apparatus IB comprises a ballelevating handle member I3 which is pivotally mounted between its ends, as at I4, in the cabinet I2 below the inclined ball playing surface I5 thereof. This member I3 has a handle portion 3ft which projects exteriorly of the cabinet I2 and it also has an inner end portion I6 which projects through, and works in, a vertical slot. i 'i which is formed in a vertical ball elevator tube or guideway I8; the inner end portion Iii of the ball elevating member I being offset from the plane of the main extent of the same (Fig. 1).

Slidably arranged in the elevator guideway or tube I8 is a ball-elevating member I9 and extending transversely through the member I9 is a slot or opening 26 into which is projected the inner end portion I6 of the ball elevator handle member I3 (Figs. 3 and 4).

Formed in the ball elevator tube or guideway I8, diametrically opposite the slot I'I formed therein, is a vertical slot or opening ZI.

'I'he ball-elevating block or member I9 has an upwardly extending portion 22 which projectsI into, and works in, the slot II and the block I9 also has a shoulder 23 which is adapted-under certain conditions hereinafter to be set forth, to-y be projected into the slot 2| (Fig. 4).

The spent balls 2t are fed, by way of a transverse runway 25 (Fig. 1), from the inclined return runway 36, which is arranged below the playing surface I5, into the lower end portion of the ball elevator tube or guideway I8, whereupon they fall, one at a time, upon the ball seat 2t which is formed upon the upper surface of the ball elevator and latch block I9, as in Fig. 3.

Carried by and depending from the elevator operating member Iii-34 is an arm 29 and pivotally connected to this arm 29 at the lower end thereof is one end portion of a rod 3D; this rod 3i? being adapted to be connected at its other end to an energy-storing spring, or other device, which operates a rotatable disc, or other device, arranged upon the playing surface I5 (not shown) as in the said Wings game.

Operation When a ball enters the elevator guideway or tube I8 it comes tov rest upon the upper surface or ball seat 26- of the elevator block I9 and in so doing positions the block I9 as in full line position, Fig. 3, or dotted line position, Fig. 4. In this position of the block I9, the upward extension 22 thereof is projected into the vertical slot II of the elevator guideway or tube I8 and the shoulder portion 23 of the block I9 is disposed out o the slot 2l, and in this position of the parts the elevator handle member I3-3II may be operated (counter-clockwise, from full to dotted line position, Fig. 3) so as to elevate the ball 24 carried upon the ball seat 26 of the block I9 up into the upper end portion of the elevator tube I8 whence it will roll, by reason of the inclination of the ball seat 26, into a position in front of the ball projecting device or plunger 21 (Fig. 1), to be replayed.

However, after the last of a predetermined number of balls allowed the player for each game has travelled by gravity from the transverse runway 25 into the elevator guideway or tube I8, any further attempt to operate the elevator handle memberrwill pivot the elevator block I9, from dotted to full line position, Fig. 4, and in this position the shoulder 23 of the block I9 engages the portion 28 of the wall of the elevator tube or guideway I8 which defines the upper Vend of the slot 2l and thereby prevents upward movement of the elevator block I9 and operation of the elevator operating member III-34.

The device shown in the present application is particularly adapted for use in connection with amusement game apparatus such as, for example, the game known as Wings, in which an energy-storing spring, which operates a rotatable disc arranged upon the playing surface I5, is energized every time the elevator handle member I3-34 is operated.

Every time the elevator-operating member I334 is depressed the arm 29 carried thereby is moved (clockwise, Fig. 2; counterclockwise, Fig. 2; left to right, Figs. 3 and 4), and this movement of the rod 30 may be employed to energize an energy-storing spring as in the said Wings game, wherein an energy-storing spring is energized and a rotatable disc is operated every time the elevating device I3-34-29, retc., is operated. Hence the player could continue to energize the said energy-storing spring and thereby rotate the said disc continuously, by operating the elevating device I3-34l-29 etc., ifY it were not for the fact that the elevator block I9 moves into lat/ching engagement with the wall 28 of the relevator guideway I1, upon the ball seat 26, and

the elevator operating member I3-34 is operated.

Mounted in the lower end wall of the cabinet I2 is a coin chute which includes a coin slide 3lY and this coin slide 3I is engageable, at its inner'end, with an operating rod 32 for a conventional cut-off device or gate 33. This cutoff device 33 works in a slot 36 which is provided at the lower end of the transverse runway or magazine 25, and is moved into effective position, against the action of its resetting spring Y 35, by operating the coin slide 3|, so as to prevent the player from milking the machine, that is, to prevent the player from continuously feeding spent balls 24 from the runway 25 into the elevator guideway I 8 while holding in the coin slide 3|, is well understood in the art.

It has been pointed out heretofore that the rod 30 may be employed to energize an energy storing spring but it is to be understood that this use of the rod 30 is merely illustrative since it may be used to operate any other part of the operating mechanism of a game apparatus.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying any invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letter Patent is:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a cabinet including a member providing a ball playing surface; means for elevating balls one at a time from a point below the said ball playing surface up to the level of the same; said elevating means including a guideway and an elevator member movable in the said guideway and having an upper surface providing a ball seat; and means including a member movably mounted in a wall of said cabinet and coacting with the said elevator member to latch the same against operation when there is no ball disposed upon the said ball seat of said elevator member.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a cabinet including a member providing a ball playing surface; means for elevating balls one at a time from a point below the said playing surface up to the level of the same; said elevating means including a guideway and an elevator member movable in the said guideway and having an upper surface providing a ball seat; an operating mechanism in the said cabinet including a movable member having an operative connection with said elevating means; and means f including a member movably mounted in a wall of said cabinet and coacting with the said elevator member to latch the same and the said movable member against operation when there is no ball disposed upon the said ball seat of said elevator member.

3. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a cabinet including a member providing a playing surface; means for elevating balls one at a time from a point below said playing surface up toi the level of the same; said elevating means comprising a vertical ball guideway including a wall having a slot or opening formed therein; an elevator member slidably arranged-in said guideway; said member having an upper surface providing a ball seat and having an opening formed therein; an elevator operating member pivotally mounted between its ends in the said cabinet below said playing surface; said elevator operating member including a handle portion projecting externally of said cabinet and having a portion projecting into the said opening in said first-named member; said first-named member y being moved, by the weight of a ball disposed upon said ball slot, into a position to be moved freely upwardly in said gudeway, but being moved by movement of said operating member into latching engagement with the said wall of said guideway when there is no ball disposed upon said ball'seat, so as to prevent operation of said elevating means.

4. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a cabinet including a member providing a playing surface; means for elevating balls one at a time from a point below said playing surface up to the level of the same; said elevating means in- 'cluding a member movably mounted in said 'guideway and comprising a vertical ball guide- `way including a wall having a slot or opening formed therein; an elevator member slidably ar- 'ranged in said guideway; said member having an upper surface providing a ball seat and hav- 'ing an opening formed therein; an elevator operating member pivotally mounted between its 'ends in the said cabinet below said playing surface; said elevator operating member including 'a handle portion projecting into the said opening in said first-named member; an operating mechanism in said cabinet including a movable member having an operative connection with the said elevator operating member; said rst-named member being moved, by the Weight of a ball disposed upon said ball seat, into a position to be moved freely upwardly in said guideway but being moved by movement fof said operating member into latching engagement with the said wall of said guideway when there is no ball disposed upon said ball seat so as to prevent operation of said elevating means and said movable member.

5. In a ball elevating device, the combination of: a guideway; a member movable in said guideway and having a surface providing a ball seat; means for operating said member so as to elevate a ball thereby in said guideway; andmeans vate a ball 'thereby in said guideway; and means including a member movably mounted in said guideway and coacting with the said movable member and with the said operating means therefor to prevent operation of the same when there is no ball disposed upon said ball seat.

'7. In a ball elevating device, the combination of: a. ball guideway having a latch element provided therein; a ball elevator in said guideway having a portion providing a ball seat; and means for operating said ball elevator including a device for urging said ball elevator into latching engagement with said latch element so as to prevent operation of said ball elevator when there is no ball disposed upon said ball seat.

8. In a ball elevating device, the combination of a ball guideway; a ball elevator in said guideway having a portion providing a ball seat; means for operating said ball elevator in said guideway; and means including a member movably mounted in said guideway and coacting with. said operating means and with said ball elevator to latch the latter against operation when there is no ball disposed upon said ball seat.

DAVID C. ROCKOLA. 

